Grosvenor Museum

Website

E-mail

Telephone

General Switchboard

01244 972197

Central Office

01244 972109

Education/School Bookings

01244 72120

Fax

01244 347587

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The Grosvenor Museum was founded in 1885 and its origins are linked to the Chester Society of Natural Science Literature & Art founded by Charles Kingsley in 1871, and to Chester Archaeological Society. The Museum holds an internationally important collection of Roman Stones, found in the City walls in the 19th century. There is also a fine collection of Chester silver, the Art Collection includes modern works. We also have a good natural history collection, including many examples of Victorian taxidermy, geological specimens plus butterflies, insects and birds. There is an interesting 17th century period house attached to the museum with many period roomsets starting in the 17th century.

Venue Type:

Museum

Opening hours

Mon-Sat 1030-1700Sun 1300-1600

Closed 24, 25 & 26 December, 1 January & Good Friday

Admission charges

Free.

Additional info

We run a wide range of activities for children particularly in school holidays. Please note for events involving children - Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times - and in general children should always be accompanied.

Primarily Roman, including an internationally important collection of Roman Stones, and archaeological finds from the surrounding area - the collections also covers Fine Art, Natural History, Local Silver, Period House Room displays & small costume gallery, Timeline gallery. Rolling programme of varying temporary exhibitions.

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (temporary)

Motherhood

6 July 2013 — 28 June 2015 *on now

A small exhibition exploring the role of motherhood between 1860 and 1960.Costume Gallery

Suitable for

Family friendly

Exhibition (temporary)

Louise Rayner:Victorian watercolours

24 January — 19 April 2015 *on now

Louise Rayner presents a uniquely charming vision of Chester in Victorian Times. Her father and sister were also artists and their watercolours are included in the exhibition Exhibition gallery two - upstairs (no disabled access)

Suitable for

Family friendly

Admission

free

Exhibition (temporary)

The Grosvenor Museum's 11th Open Art Exhibition

12 March — 17 June 2015

Discover a wealth of local creative talent in this diverse and stimulating exhibition selected from hundreds of entries in open competition. Exhibition gallery one - ground floor

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

free

Exhibition (temporary)

Frances Disley: Metamorphosis

25 April — 19 July 2015

Frances Disley creates her own work and runs the Bluecoat Print Studio & lectures in Fine Art at Liverpool Hope University. This exhibition charts her fascination with process and colour - exhibition gallery two (upstairs - no disabled access)

Suitable for

Family friendly

Admission

free

Exhibition (temporary)

Frances Disley Exhibition Launch

2 May 2015 2-4pm

Frances invites you to join her to see how she creates her work and get a chance to create your own. Frances will demonstrate the intricacies of linocutting and building layers of colour. There will be an opportunity to print using some linocuts made specially for this event

Suitable for

16-17

14-15

11-13

18+

Admission

free drop in

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Lecture, talk or reading

Eighteenth Century Liverpool Porcelain

19 March 2015 7:30-9pm

Maurice Hillis shares his knowledge of this fascinating topic

Suitable for

16-17

18+

Admission

Grosvenor Museum Society members free, Non members £4, students with valid card £2

Workshop, club or activity

History Wardrobe presents Story of the White Wedding

28 March 2015 12-1pm

Bringing historic family photos to life this charming presentation celebrates the traditional white wedding in all its glory. Indulge your senses with a gorgeous array of original gowns from every decade of the 20th century

Suitable for

Family friendly

Admission

free display and talk in the Lecture Theatre

Living history or re-enactment

Vintage Weddings

28 March 2015 11am-4pm

At Chester History & Heritage see how weddings have changed over the past century, find out about wedding cakes and have a slice of wedding cake and some elderflower cordial 'champagne'.

2-4pm Children's craft activities. At the Grosvenor Museum come and find out about Violet's wedding in 1946 and see the dress and accessories she used on her big day. Make a lucky horseshoe, paper flowers & confetti.

Suitable for

Admission

Louise Rayner Exhibition Tour

Join Peter Boughton for a guided tour of this exhibition of much loved paintings of Chester. On the second floor - no disabled access

Suitable for

16-17

14-15

18+

Admission

free

Workshop, club or activity

Rainbow in the Museum

7 April 2015 2-4pm

Make a section for this piece of vivid installation art which will hang in the museum for one day only. Made entirely by our visitors from laminated cellophane. This will reflect the rainbow of colours in our Open Art Exhibition

Suitable for

Any age

Workshop, club or activity

Crime & Punishment in Victorian Chester

8 April 2015 11am-4pm

Free drop in - come and meet some of the characters from Chester's criminal past. Help the judge decide their fate in court. Copies of their records to view. Court cases at 11.30am, 2pm & 3.30pm

Suitable for

7-10

11-13

14-15

16-17

18+

Admission

free event

Workshop, club or activity

Clay Cats

9 April 2015 2pm

Will you make a tall skinny cat or a short dumpy curled up one ? All clay provided - just bring your imagination!

Suitable for

5-6

11-13

7-10

14-15

Admission

free drop in

Workshop, club or activity

Shopping in Victorian Chester

14 April 2015 2-4pm

Take this chance to glimpse into Louise Rayner's shopping city, with archives and objects in the museum, plus a family city tour.

Suitable for

Admission

Punch & Judy

Professor Andrew Clarkson presents a magical experience with his live authentic Victorian puppet show. First come first served so come early to avoid disappointment.

Suitable for

0-4

5-6

7-10

11-13

14-15

Any age

Admission

£1 pay on the door. Three performances in the Lecture Theatre (accessible) at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. First come first served so come early to avoid disappointment

Workshop, club or activity

Water Lily Masterpieces

16 April 2015 2-4pm

The French Impressionist Monet was inspired to paint the water lilies in his garden many times over. Make your own water lily masterpiece to be part of our museum display

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

free drop in

Lecture, talk or reading

Charles Darwin's 'La Belle Fanny' the life & loves of Fanny Myddleton

16 April 2015 7:30-9pm

Jill Burton Education officer at Chirk Castle, explores the more personal life of Charles Darwin and Fanny Owen who later married into the Myddleton family of Chirk Castle.

Many of the letters still remain, revealing the un-orthodox behaviour that enraptured the young Darwin. “Fanny Owen was Darwin’s first love and the sister of his school friend William Owen,” she said. “Darwin’s mother died when he was young and his life was sombre. But he fell in love with Fanny and the couple went riding together and would gorge themselves on strawberries in fields – behaviour that was most unusual for a young lady in Jane Austen times.

Suitable for

16-17

18+

Admission

Grosvenor Museum Society members free, Non members £4, students £2 with valid card

Lecture, talk or reading

The Hidden Persuaders: A New New Look at Contemporary Art

13 May 2015 1:30-3:30pm

Adrian Sumner looks at the changing face of the art scene now, and the expensive make up it slaps on to cover the cracks. All the way from Zaha Hadid to Jeff Koons & Lady Gaga - not forgetting Jack Vettriano

Suitable for

14-15

16-17

18+

Admission

£3 please pay on door to Lecture theatre

Guided tour

Open Art Exhibition Tour

20 May 2015 2-3pm

Join Peter Boughton the Keeper of Art for a guided tour of The Grosvenor Museum's 11th Open Art Exhibition. Come and enjoy the variety of the region's art and see if you agree with the judges!

Suitable for

Family friendly

Admission

free exhibition gallery one on the ground floor

Workshop, club or activity

Roman Treasure Chests

26 May 2015 2-4pm

Make and decorate your own treasure chest and fill it with chocolate coins

Suitable for

5-6

7-10

0-4

11-13

Admission

free drop in activity

Workshop, club or activity

Make an Art Installation with Frances Disley

27 May 2015 2-4pm

Work with artist Frances Disley to help create an installation which will go on display in the museum's entrance hall. Inspired by our collections, you will have the opportunity to create your own work using collage and print techniques. This event is open to all ages from children to adults

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

free drop in event

Workshop, club or activity

A Walk in the Park

28 May 2015 2-4pm

Be inspired by the natural history collection in the museum and take a walk in the park with experts from Cheshire Wildlife Trust

Suitable for

11-13

14-15

7-10

5-6

16-17

Admission

free walk leave the museum at 2.15pm for the park

Workshop, club or activity

The Giant Cardboard House

29 May 2015 2-4pm

Come and make a bit of wall, window, door or more of the bizarre temporary house we'll be building in our Newstead Gallery

Suitable for

Any age

5-6

7-10

11-13

14-15

16-17

Admission

free drop in event

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Boxes, objects and other kit

Roman Tours

We now have armour which the children can wear whilst on the Roman Soldier guided tours. This gives scope for the imagination and allows the children to feel more involved in the experience.

How to obtain

To obtain further information and to book tours please ring Lorna Kernahan Moore on 01244 972120, Kate Harland on 01244 972066 or Fran Bray on 01244 972089

Paper-based and downloads

Teacher Packs

Teaching Packs

How to obtain

Ring 01244 972120 and ask for Lorna Kernahan Moore to make a school booking, or for the Education department call 01244 972066 to speak to Kate Harland, or Fran Bray on 01244 972089.